Gaelic Park in New York, 1965

Since 1926 Gaelic Park at 240th St and Broadway in the Bronx has been the home to the GAA in New York.
In this report from 1965 Michael O’Hehir visits Gaelic Park.
A little spot of Ireland they say in the centre of the skyscrapers and buildings that make New York.
An innovation in the time keeping of games has been introduced and is explained to Michael O’Hehir. John O’Donnell gives the history of Gaelic Park, he has been connected with the venue since 1944.
At the pitch side in Gaelic Park commentator John ‘Lefty’ Devine also speaks to Michael O’Hehir.
Some young Irish emigrants explain that Gaelic Park is also an important venue for social gatherings and to meet other Irish people.
This episode of ‘Sport in Action’ was broadcast on 12 January 1966.

[@Amidat]

The good old Bronx. Park is still there. Though it seems teams train in Van Cortlandt Park a few blocks away

[@johncarneytheothersideofba8905]

WHen i was a boy my dad used to visit the Park every Sunday for the matches, It was called Croke Park in those days. I remember playing under the bleachers and looking for coins . Ah, what memories

[@seanoregan998]

My father was a night watchman here when he came out from Limerick in 1957.

[@owenmcgee8496]

A man named Fergus Hanna wrote a gigantic book on the history of the GAA in New York

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

@Black Lesbian Poet A lot has changed since then, the standard of living in Ireland is much closer to that of the US now, plus immigration is a lot stricter. Fewer go over to begin with, and a lot of those that do are students going over for the summer.

[@conordorrian1652]

Fergie Hanna couldn't spell his own name....

[@joemadden2729]

Fergie was a great man. From Fermanagh. He covered sports for the Irish Echo and Irish Voice and also coached the New York football team in the 90’s. RIP

[@Amidat]

@@TheLastAngryMan01 that is true of many ethnic groups... that's why the US changed migration laws in the 1960's to encourage other groups to move in.

[@TheRealManFromClare]

Who was the man from Kilmihill who looked after the scoreboard and clock?

[@JDLeonard74]

The town I grew up in was half giant rail yard, and textile factories, and half, small farms. By 5 or 6 blocks away you were staring at a field of cows. With gardened houses all around that. The town laid across the giant railroad rebuild yard in the center. It made for a divided town in a way also. My mother's family and my father's family... west side story kind of thing. No real ethnic boundaries for white people to be totally honest. Not meaning to sound awful, but truthfully yes. No solid one for race either, but where and when I was? It was not as open as today. One can take that as they wish. Sad but truthful. I could look down 100 different corridors on what if's. I guess I'm a Buster Keaton sort of personality for all of this.? 🤷‍♂️😊👍

[@damianmcdonagh7908]

In all the years I lived in New York I never once set foot in Gaelic Park. Brooklyn was where it was it.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

For gaelic games?

[@damianmcdonagh7908]

@@TheLastAngryMan01 Women!!!!

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

@@damianmcdonagh7908 Fair enough, the ruination of many a GAA career that, LOL.

[@damianmcdonagh7908]

@@TheLastAngryMan01 I understand the attraction of the GAA in New York but New York was there to be lived, explored and all else in between. I spent a few years living in Riverdale the Bronx. Gaelic Park was literally across the street. I knew many Irish people there but like myself we were living in the one of the greatest cities in the world and couldn't quite fathom why anyone would spend a Sunday afternoon watching a meaningless GAA match. Anyone I know looking to move to New York would be best advised to avoid the Irish scene. That's my honest opinion and many will disagree.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

@@damianmcdonagh7908 Have never lived there mate, can’t disagree with you. I have played GAA abroad and had a great time doing so, but it depends on your priorities, I guess.

[@rockyzrockyx917]

Gaelic Football - GAA - is an exciting, intense, fast and fun sport to play as well as watch. Soccer is boring. Yesterday's FA Cup Final - Liverpool wins on statistical probability penalty kicks after a 0-0 regulation game. 90 minutes and no score? What?

[@VMA225]

Good to see Famous Irish and International Sports Announcer Mehaul O'Hehir; John " Kerry " O'Donnell, and John " Lefty " Devine at Gaelic Park in the North West Bronx, after all these years. The Irish are still playing Gaelic Football and Hurling at Gaelic Park every Sunday. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_Park

[@rocon86]

Cavan, the only county to win an All-Ireland Football Championship outside of the Republic, in the polo grounds in New York. 🟦⬜